The Big List of Twitter Tools: 59 Free Twitter Tools and Apps to Fit Any Need

Twitter is a fascinating adventure of relationships, entertainment, education, and fun. Now imagine layering on a few dozen powerups.That’s how it feels sometimes when you find just the right Twitter tool. And there’s a tool for practically every desire or whim.

Tools for productivity, for efficiency, for research, and so much more. With such a generous API, Twitter tools have become legion—and we social sharers are better off for it.

At Buffer, we tend to come across a fair share of social media tools. We’ve collected a great bunch to share with you! Here are all the tools we’ve found helpful and many more that we’re excited to try. If there’s a free Twitter tool out there, you’re likely to find a mention here in our list.

(If we missed any good free Twitter tools, let us know in the comments!)

The big list of 59 free Twitter tools for marketers

Navigate this list fast

Looking for something in particular? Try clicking one of these categories:

What is Regulation Z?

Regulation Z (also known as Reg Z) is the implementing regulation of the Truth-in-Lending Act (TILA), and it governs how auto loans and leases are advertised. The general idea is that if you talk about consumer credit in your ads; the information must be accurate and note whether certain terms may be subject to restrictions or qualifications.

“Buying or leasing a car is a big deal, and car ads are an important source of information for serious shopping,” said Jessica Rich, director of the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) Bureau of Consumer Protection, in a press release. “Dealers’ ads need to spell out costs and other important terms customers can count on. If they don’t, dealers can count on the FTC to take action.”

It’s not enough to say, “Low monthly payments of $200!” You must also explain how the consumer can receive that rate — do they need to put $5,000 down, or be approved for a rate of 4%, select a 72-month repayment period or all of the above? Spell it out in black and white so it is abundantly clear.

Under Regulation Z, you must be upfront and disclose all terms of loans to potential borrowers, including, but not limited to:

Interest rates

Applicable fees

Length of loans

Reg Z is all about transparency; don’t make false or misleading claims to get customers into your dealership.

A Regulation Z summary of “trigger terms”

How can you know when you need to provide additional information about a financing option? Are there certain situations where you don’t have to say anything?

If you’re advertising a vehicle and include a mention of a one-time credit transaction, there are specific terms — known as trigger terms — that will signal to you that more information is required. If any of these trigger terms pop up, you must clearly and conspicuously disclose additional details about the offer:

The amount of percentage of any down payment

The number of payments or period of repayment

The amount of any payment

The amount of any finance charge

When those trigger terms come up, here’s the type of information you’ll need to provide:

The down payment amount or percentage, if any

The terms of the repayment

The annual percentage rate (APR), and if the APR increases after purchasing the vehicle; you must also state that.

What doesn’t trigger an obligation to disclose further information? There are, indeed, a few things:

Statements such as “no down payment” or “no trade-in required.”

Statements of the APR or that there is no particular charge for credit (for example, no closing costs).

While these Regulation Z disclosures must be clearly and conspicuously displayed, there are no exact rules regarding their size or display format. If you’re not sure what’s legal, the FTC offers some helpful information regarding the ways to ensure your disclosures are efficient and compliant.

What happens if you don’t comply

If you’re the type of person who likes to skate around the rules, you won’t want to mess with Regulation Z. In 2014, the FTC conducted “Operation Steer Clear” and nabbed ten dealerships for misrepresenting finance terms in a variety of advertisements. They always keep an eye out for deceptive advertising and encourage consumers to do the same.

Violations of Regulation Z may result in the government and individuals’ bringing civil charges against you and your dealership’s paying statutory damages, attorney fees, and court costs in all cases. For individual actions, you might have to pay not less than $100 or more than $1,000. For class actions, there’s a maximum of $500,000 or 1% of your net worth — whichever is less.

What is your best bet? We’re not lawyers and we don’t play them on TV, so please consult with your legal team and do additional homework to ensure your dealership is in full compliance. Keeping your advertisements legal doesn’t just keep you compliant — you’re also exhibiting a transparency that consumers will come to know and trust.

WE OFFER VIN VERIFICATIONS IN 39 CITIES ACROSS CALIFORNIA

800-901-5950

Your vehicle’s unique Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is a 17-digit number that can be found on the title document, the vehicle registration, and on the insurance policy. The VIN can also be located at the following locations on the car itself:

Outside of our homes, a car is often one of the most expensive assets we purchase. As a vehicle buyer, you can reduce your risk of hidden problems and intentional fraud. As a vehicle seller, you can help increase confidence for potential buyers by proving that your car has a clean history — and being upfront about defects if any are found. Most people run a VIN check to:

Understand a vehicle’s past ownership history

Check for hidden issues or prior damage
(including title brands, total-loss records, and open liens)

Avoid getting intentionally scammed or defrauded
(such as from buying a stolen or unsafe vehicle)

Your vehicle’s unique Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is a 17-digit number that can be found on the title document, the vehicle registration, and on the insurance policy. The VIN can also be located at the following locations on the car itself:

Outside of our homes, a car is often one of the most expensive assets we purchase. As a vehicle buyer, you can reduce your risk of hidden problems and intentional fraud. As a vehicle seller, you can help increase confidence for potential buyers by proving that your car has a clean history — and being upfront about defects if any are found. Most people run a VIN check to:

Understand a vehicle’s past ownership history

Check for hidden issues or prior damage
(including title brands, total-loss records, and open liens)

Avoid getting intentionally scammed or defrauded
(such as from buying a stolen or unsafe vehicle)

he 200 members of the Association of Motor Vehicle Investigators of California are the guardians of the state’s most important documents of its citizens: drivers’ licenses and identification cards.

All AMVIC members are sworn peace officers, conducting investigations, executing search warrants, setting up sting operations, making arrests, and occasionally having to draw their firearms in defense of the public. Their highly specialized training includes both criminal and complex administrative investigations.

After 9/11, these employees of the Department of Motor Vehicles moved to the front lines in California’s contribution to national security, and they now conduct joint operations with the Department of Homeland Security’s U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency.

In addition to tracking down counterfeit drivers’ license and counterfeit identification-card rings, AMVIC investigators are also charged with:

AMVIC investigators handle more than 20,000 cases a year, but after a 9/11 hijacker was found in possession of a fake California driver’s license, no task became more important than nabbing those with counterfeit documents and busting the rings that produce them.

WALNUT CREEK, Calif. – Thomas Henry Morris, 72, pleaded guilty to one felony count of insurance fraud after he collected premiums and failed to pay over $133,000 in premiums to an insurer. Morris was sentenced to three years felony probation and 40 hours of community service. As part of his plea agreement, Morris paid $133,000 in restitution and will pay an additional $10,000 to the insurance company involved.

“This sentencing is a victory for consumers and insurers,” said Commissioner Dave Jones. “It was because of the combined efforts of the Department of Insurance and the Contra Costa County District Attorney that we were able to bring an end to the scheming and thieving of this individual and find justice for the aggrieved insurance company.”

Morris, who owns Morris & Associates Insurance Services Inc., carried out his scheme with a producer license that expired in 1994. He exposed auto dealerships to hundreds of thousands of dollars in potential liability by selling surety bonds, collecting the premium and pocketing the funds that belonged to the insurer.

The investigation began in September 2013 and revealed Morris was directly involved in conducting unlicensed insurance transactions. The criminal complaint was issued June 24, 2014 and Morris surrendered to the court the following day.

###

The California Department of Insurance, established in 1868, is the largest consumer protection agency in California, regulating the $123 billion insurance marketplace. In 2013 the California Department of Insurance received more than 170,000 calls from consumers and helped recover over $63 million in claims and premiums. Please visit the Department of Insurance web site at www.insurance.ca.gov. Non-media inquiries should be directed to the Consumer Hotline at 800.927.HELP or 213.897.8921. Telecommunications Devices for the Deaf (TDD), please dial 800.482.4833.